The bill, originally introduced in 2015, would reduce mandatory minimum sentences for certain drug offenses and armed career criminals while increasing mandatory minimums for other offenses such as domestic violence.

"While the political landscape in Washington has changed, the same problems presented by the current sentencing regime remain," Grassley said in a statement.

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Durbin, noting senators have been working on the issue for five years, called it the "best chance in a generation to right the wrongs of a badly broken system."

"We believe this legislation would pass the Senate with a strong bipartisan vote — it’s time to get this done," he said.

But the legislation hit a legislative wall amid pushback from a small yet vocal wing of Senate conservatives. House Republicans also took a different approach, raising questions about if they would be willing to take up the Senate bill.